Theme: FINAL OFFER
18A: Elvis's Musical ultimatum: NOW OR NEVER
27A: Frustrated athlete's ultimatum: PLAY ME OR TRADE ME
49A: Seller's ultimatum: TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
64A: Hide-and-seek player's ultimatum: READY OR NOT
Shouldn't the clue for 18A be Elvis' instead of Elvis's?
Both "More or less" and "Sooner or later" are antonym phrases too, but I don't think they carry an "OR ELSE" tone. How about "To be or not to be"? Would you consider it a possible ultimatum?
Because of various OR's in the grid, I would prefer LOWE (7D: Rob or Chad) to be clued simply as "Actor Rob", and DALE (41D: Carnegie or Murphy) simply as "Catcher Murphy". No need to provide 2 names for the answer, one is sufficient.
Lots of proper names in this puzzle, most easily obtainable though. I did have trouble in the lower middle corner. I guessed ESTELLAS instead of ESTELLES for 55A: Getty and Winwood, so my 51D became OBARON, which sounded pretty good to me.
Across:
5A: Muslim faith: ISLAM. Literally "submission" in Arabic. "Muslim" (one who surrenders) has the same root word 'aslama (to surrender), according to the dictionary.
14A: Vault: LEAP. My first thought was SAFE.
15A: Wynonna's mom: NAOMI. They really look like sisters, don't they? I like Ashley Judd in "Double Jeopardy".
16A: Skater Lipinksi: TARA. Awesome! I like the music she picked.
20A: Marina skyline: MASTS. If MASTS refer to those vertical spars, then what do you call those horizontal poles?
22A: Old World: EUROPEAN. Really? Not EUROPE?
26A: 11: NOV.: I don't like this clue. I would prefer "Election mo."
36A: Poet Teasdale: SARA. I got it from the down clues. What poem is she famous for?
71A: Kyle's friend on "South Park": STAN. "Oh my God, they killed Kenny!"
Down:
1D: Bronco's kicker Jason: ELAM. This is what Dennis said last time: "Jason ELAM is tied for the longest field goal (63 yds.), and has Super Bowls and Pro Bowls under his belt. One of the better kickers." But I forgot, would not have got it without the across fills. I seem to only remember things I should not have been taught.
2D: Composer Bartok: BELA. I hope you enjoy this "Sonata for Solo Violin" clip. So good.
3D: Quartet member: BASS. Does this refer to vocal quartet?
927D: Whitneys partner: PRATT. Great logo.
28D: Gospels' source material: LOGIA. Plural of Logion. New to me. Was it a gimme to you?
29D: Wild way to run?: AMUCK. I still think there should be a "var." mark with the clue. What's your opinion?
33D: ___ Gras: MARDI. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Chris, Sandra and all those whose are affected by Gustav.
34D: German artist Max: ERNST. I am so tired of Dadaism. Remember René Magritte (surrealist)'s "This Is Not a Pipe"?
42D: Pipe part: STEM. Or "Flower holder". Do you love red, red rose?
51D: Titania's mate: OBERON. Vaguely remember "A Midsummer Night's Dream" story, but could not remember his name. WP says OBERON is also a "moon of Uranus".
61D: Puccini piece: ARIA. Very fascinating Maria Callas clip. Ari Onassis probably should have married her instead of Jackie. Is anyone here an opera fan?
65D: Last of pay?: OLA. Payola. I just learned earlier that OLA is also Spanish for "wave". How do you say "make waves" in Spanish? And what will be the Spanish title for this songtrack?
C.C.
18A: Elvis's Musical ultimatum: NOW OR NEVER
27A: Frustrated athlete's ultimatum: PLAY ME OR TRADE ME
49A: Seller's ultimatum: TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
64A: Hide-and-seek player's ultimatum: READY OR NOT
Shouldn't the clue for 18A be Elvis' instead of Elvis's?
Both "More or less" and "Sooner or later" are antonym phrases too, but I don't think they carry an "OR ELSE" tone. How about "To be or not to be"? Would you consider it a possible ultimatum?
Because of various OR's in the grid, I would prefer LOWE (7D: Rob or Chad) to be clued simply as "Actor Rob", and DALE (41D: Carnegie or Murphy) simply as "Catcher Murphy". No need to provide 2 names for the answer, one is sufficient.
Lots of proper names in this puzzle, most easily obtainable though. I did have trouble in the lower middle corner. I guessed ESTELLAS instead of ESTELLES for 55A: Getty and Winwood, so my 51D became OBARON, which sounded pretty good to me.
Across:
5A: Muslim faith: ISLAM. Literally "submission" in Arabic. "Muslim" (one who surrenders) has the same root word 'aslama (to surrender), according to the dictionary.
14A: Vault: LEAP. My first thought was SAFE.
15A: Wynonna's mom: NAOMI. They really look like sisters, don't they? I like Ashley Judd in "Double Jeopardy".
16A: Skater Lipinksi: TARA. Awesome! I like the music she picked.
20A: Marina skyline: MASTS. If MASTS refer to those vertical spars, then what do you call those horizontal poles?
22A: Old World: EUROPEAN. Really? Not EUROPE?
26A: 11: NOV.: I don't like this clue. I would prefer "Election mo."
36A: Poet Teasdale: SARA. I got it from the down clues. What poem is she famous for?
71A: Kyle's friend on "South Park": STAN. "Oh my God, they killed Kenny!"
Down:
1D: Bronco's kicker Jason: ELAM. This is what Dennis said last time: "Jason ELAM is tied for the longest field goal (63 yds.), and has Super Bowls and Pro Bowls under his belt. One of the better kickers." But I forgot, would not have got it without the across fills. I seem to only remember things I should not have been taught.
2D: Composer Bartok: BELA. I hope you enjoy this "Sonata for Solo Violin" clip. So good.
3D: Quartet member: BASS. Does this refer to vocal quartet?
927D: Whitneys partner: PRATT. Great logo.
28D: Gospels' source material: LOGIA. Plural of Logion. New to me. Was it a gimme to you?
29D: Wild way to run?: AMUCK. I still think there should be a "var." mark with the clue. What's your opinion?
33D: ___ Gras: MARDI. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Chris, Sandra and all those whose are affected by Gustav.
34D: German artist Max: ERNST. I am so tired of Dadaism. Remember René Magritte (surrealist)'s "This Is Not a Pipe"?
42D: Pipe part: STEM. Or "Flower holder". Do you love red, red rose?
51D: Titania's mate: OBERON. Vaguely remember "A Midsummer Night's Dream" story, but could not remember his name. WP says OBERON is also a "moon of Uranus".
61D: Puccini piece: ARIA. Very fascinating Maria Callas clip. Ari Onassis probably should have married her instead of Jackie. Is anyone here an opera fan?
65D: Last of pay?: OLA. Payola. I just learned earlier that OLA is also Spanish for "wave". How do you say "make waves" in Spanish? And what will be the Spanish title for this songtrack?
C.C.
